Light-signaling



A. AMES, JR. LIGHT SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 19H.

Patented May 4, 1920.

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. ADELBERT AMES, JR, OF TEWKSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIGHT-SIGNALING.

Application filed June 21,

To all whom'z't may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADELBER'T AMns, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and resident of Tewksbury in the county of Middlesex and State of assachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Light- Signaling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for signaling with light by intermittently projecting flashes of light, the flashes preferably being projected accordin%to a predetermined code.

he principal object of the invention is to provide a method and means for signaling with light in a more convenient and effective manner than has heretofore been possible. Another object of the invention is to provide means for intermittently flashing beams of light without either extinguishing the light or shading the projector. Another object is to project intermittent flashes of light which are sharply defined, that is, flashes which begin abruptly and terminate abruptly, so that signals may be transmitted at a rapid rate and so that they may be readily distinguished.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which,--

Figure l is a vertical central longitudinal section'of the preferred embodiment of my invention; and.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus, a

part being broken away.

The particular embodiment of my invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises in general a reflector 1 adapted to project light emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, this reflector preferably" being parabolic in contour, a light source 2 which preferably comprises an incandescent bulb containing a lament of suitable shape, a casing 3 for inclosing the reflector, light source and other parts, and a transparent front cover 4.- The transparent front cover may be mounted on the apparatusin any suitable manner but it is preferably mounted somewhat in advance of the forward periphery ofv the reflector 1. In the illustrated embodiment this is effected by providing a cylindrical extension 6 on the forward edge of the casing 3,

the transparent front cover being mounted on the extension 6 by means of an annular member 7 secured to'the extension 6 by Specification 0t Letterl Patent.

I ramm d May 4, 1920. 1917. Serial No. 176,081.

means of screws 8. The extension 6 serves to prevent light radiating laterally from the 11g t source, and it also affords more space withm the housing so that the light source ma be moved axially within the apparatus,

ereinafter described.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, the light source is so mounted in the apparatus that it may be moved into and out of the focus of the reflector 1. When the light source is in the focus a concentrated beam is projected by the apparatus, and by employing a concentrated light source and a parabolic reflector the beam of light produced by the apparatus can be made substantially cylindrical so that'it will carry agreat distance. When the light source is moved out of the focus, even a distance as 7 small as an inch or two, the light is so dispersed that the concentrated beam is entirely broken up and consequently the light will not w carry an appreciable distance. While the flashes 0 light may be produced by moving the light in and out-of focus in either a curved or a straight line, I preferably, arrange the apparatus so that the light source may be reclprocated into and out of focus along the axis of the reflector, the mounting means preferably being disposed in the rear of the reflector.

The particular means for movably mounting the light source which I have chosen to illustrate my invention comprises a tubularmember extending axially from the rear of the casing 3, the tubular member preferably comprising a portion 11 of relatively large diameter and a portion 12 of smaller diameter. The tubular member 11 12 is preferably formed integrally with the casing 3 and is closed at its rear end by means of a cap 13 threaded into the smaller portion 12 of the member. The light source 2 is mountmeans of a driving fit, and are adapted to 7 permit the member 16 to slide freely therethrough. .In order to reciprocate the member 16 a sleeve 19 is secured to the member projections 21 are mounted arms 24 which when the stop 19 a pl le preferably extend outwardly and forwardly lnto proximity to the periphery of the projector casing, the arms 24 bein secure to the projections 21 1n any suitable manner, as for example, by brazing. The sleeve 19 is secured on the tubular member 16 at such position longitudinally of the tube 16 that when the sleeve 19 abuts against sleeve 17 the light source is disposed in the focus of the reflector, and that when the reciprocating parts are moved rearwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, with the sleeve 19 abutting against sleeve 18, the light source will be sufficiently displaced from the focus of the reflector as to prevent the formation of a concentrated beam of light; although it is to be understood that the stops 17, 18 and 19 may be relatively so disposed .that the light source is in the focus uts against stop 18.

In order normally to hold the light source in one of its two extreme positions, I provide yiel means in the form of a coiled spring 24. he ielding means may be so arranged as to ho d the light source in either of its extreme positions, but I prefer to so arrange the means as normally to hold the light source out of focus. I have therefore ustrated .the spring as bein a compression spring, acting at one en against the casing 3, and at the other end against the reciprocating parts T he spring acts against the 3 through the medium of a flanged ring 26 secured to .the casing by means of screws 27 and the spring acts on .the reciprocating parts through the medium of a flan (1 disk 28 threaded upon the tubular mem r 16. The conductors 31 for supg current to the light source may be into the apparatus in any suitable manner, but I prefer to lead them through a slot 32 in the member 12 and thence into the rear end of the tubular member 16.

In operating the apparatus the light source is reciprocated into and out of focus intermittently in such manner as to project flashes of light according to a predetermined code. The arms 24 are arranged to extend into proximity 'to the periphery of the casing 3 so that when the apparatus is gripped on opposite sides in the two hands of the operator he may reciprocate the li ht source forwardly into focus by pressing gmwardly on the hooked ends of the arms 24 with his thumbs. In this way the beam of light maybe accurately aimed at the signal- Lamond vertically and horizontally, but inasmuch as the mounting means comprises no part of the present invention it has not been illustrated.

If the light source be axially moved 'out of the focus only a'small fraction of an inch in either direction the beam spreads out into the form of a cone having a hollow center and the farther the source is removed from the focus the greater the spread of the cone and the greater the size of the hollow or dark center. Consequently, by aiming the apparatus directly at the receiving station signals maybe transmitted by moving the light source only the small amount necessary to produce a dark center in the beam and without totally destroying the beam.

The difliculty experienced with light signaling apparatus in which the circuit of the lamp is opened and closed to flash the sigmay be transmitted at a very rapid rate owing to the fact that they begin and end abruptly.

I claim:

1. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect light emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, a light source, means for movably mounting the light source relatively to the reflector so that it can be moved into and out of focus, and yielding means for normally holding the liggt source out of focus, the yielding means ing adapted to yield sufficiently to permit the light source to be moved into focus against the action thereof, whereby light signals may be transmitted by intermittently moving the light source into focus against the action of said yielding means.

2. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect light emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, a light source, means for 'movably mounting t e light source so that it may be moved into and out of focus, the apparatus being adapted to be held in the hand and havin means for moving the light source exten ng into juxtaposition to the. hand holding position, whereby the light source may be moved relatively to the reflector by the hand holding the apparatus.

3. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect lightv emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, alight source, means for movably mounting t e light source so that it may be moved into and out of focus, the apparatus having two lateral hand holding positions and having means extending into juxtaposition to said sitions for moving the light source, where y the apparatus may be supported and directed b both hands and at the same time be actuate by one or both hands.

4. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect light emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, a li ht source, means for movably mounting t e light source along the axis of the reflector so that it may be moved into and out of focus, and an arm extending laterally from the mounting means into proximity to the periphery of the reflector for controlling the movement of the light source.

5. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect light emanating from its focus in the form of a concentrated beam, a light source, a socket member fixedly mounted along the axis of the reflector, a plunger member arranged to reciprocate in the tubular member, the plunger member supporting the light source in the region of the focus of the reflector and being arranged to move the light source into and out of focus as it is reciprocated in the tubular member, and apair of arms extending outwardly from the plunger member through slots in the tubular member for controlling the movement of the light source.

6. Signaling apparatus comprising a reflector adapted to reflect light emanatin from its focus in the form of a concentrate beam, a tubular casing extendingv axially from the rear of said reflector, an electric lamp normally having its socket disposed in the forward end of saidcasing and its light source in the rear of the focus of said reflector, a member extending rearwardly fromv said socket in said casing and having aslid in fit with the casing, a spring surrounding sa1d socket to urge said lamp rearwardly, and means for advancing said lam into focus extending laterally from sai member through a slot in said casing.

Si ed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this th day of June, 1917.

ADELBERT AMES, JR. 

